"OUR" PLACE - SEE NEW THREAD!

[siberianmo]

THURSDAY’s INFO & SUMMARY of RECENT POSTS

We open at 6 AM, all time zones. (Don’t ask how we do that!) [swg]

Tonight is Fish 'n Chips Nite and Nick's Picks!

Better late than never! [swg]
Looks to me as if Ted ‘n Nick did a splendid job of keeping things on track in my absence – as did Rob the day before! Many thanx! [tup][tup][tup]


Daily Wisdom:

Life is like checkers. When you reach the top, you can move wherever you want.


Info for the Day:

(1) CONTEST:
What date (time optional) will ”Our” Place reach the next plateau – page 200 [?] BONUS question: WHO will be the one to “turn the page” [?]

Participants . . . . . . Date chosen . . . . (Bonus) Who will put us over the top [?]
(in order of participation)
pwolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 20th . . . . . . . . . .siberianmo Tom
trolleyboy Rob . . . . . . . . . Dec 18th (12:05 PM) . siberianmo Tom
coalminer3 CM3 . . . . . . . .Dec 18th. . . . . . . . . . siberianmo Tom
barndad Doug . . . . . . . . . Dec 22nd . . . . . . . . . none
nickinwestwales Nick . . . .Dec 27th . . . . . . . . . .trolleyboy Rob
ftwNSengineer P . . . . . . . Dec 23rd . . . . . . . . . .trolleyboy Rob
jlampke John . . . . . . . . . Dec 24th (noon) . . . . . siberianmo Tom

CONTEST CLOSED!


SUMMARY

Name …..…………… Date/Time …..…..………. (Page#) .. Remarks

(1) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 03:27:36 (191)

(2) wanswheel Mike Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 05:51:04 (192) We brought the NYC to its knees

(3) siberianmo Tom Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 05:59:13 (192) Wednesday’s Info & Summary

(4) siberianmo Tom Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 06:08:46 (192) NOSTALGIA #43 Ad – El Capitan

(5)Theodorebear Ted Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 06:46:27 (192) AM Greeting!

(6) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 07:34:39 (192) AM Greeting!

(7) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 07:36:14 (192) Inclusive Post!

(8) passengerfan Al Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 07:36:38 (192) Streamliner #2- Comet

(9) coalminer3 CM3 Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 08:36:55 (192) Pick-us-up-Post!

(10) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 08:49:37 (192) Inclusive Post!

(11) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 09:16:04 (192)Inclusive Post!

(12) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 12:21:18 (192)Inclusive Post!

(13) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 14:57:35 (192)

(14) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 16:52:55 (192) Inclusive Post!

(15) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 17:12:42 (192)

(16) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 17:32:41 (192) Huh?

(17) jdonald Don Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 18:40:50 (192) Inclusive Post!

(18) nickinwestwales Nick Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 20:44:57 (192)

(19) Theodorebear Ted Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 21:01:31 (192)

(20) wanswheel Mike Posted: 14 Dec 2005, 21:49:56 (192)

=======================================
That’s it! [tup][;)]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]
Proprietor of “Our” Place, an adult eating & drinking establishment!

[siberianmo]

G'day Gents!

Cindy go ahead and take off for the remainder of this fine day. You've "done good" and as always. Don't know what we're going to do without you once your sabattical from your university is finished. Perhaps you can conduct your classes here at the bar - I'm sure you'd have all kinds of interested listeners! [swg]

Well, Gents - the more I try to get ahead, the "behinder" I get. Know the feelin' [?] I'm not sure it's even worth trying to compile a SUMMARY at the rate I'm movin' today!

I had 18 Emails on two accounts to take care of - that's 18 requiring some sort of a response. [wow] It's been that kinda day .....

Okay - let me at least get this out of the way for those who are interested:

The Amtrak trip to Kanas City yesterday was not quite what it should have been. Fortunately for those of us aboard the train, the disaster that occurred in southwest Missouri had no impact on the route of our train.

For those who may not know, a dam gave way near a place called Lesterville, MO and it sent tons of water cascading down the western slope of Proffit Mountain, overwhelming the east fork of the Black River and a portion of a State Park. It is not known how many died, but there surely were fatalities.

I boarded the train at 8:15 AM at Kirkwood and 5 minutues later, we were sitting in a passing siding, waiting for the backlog of UP freights to run through. We sat for 50 minutes. It was pretty stop 'n go all the way to Jefferson City, where Pete lives - a trip that normally take 2 hours, took 4. Pete and I arrived in Kansas City at 2:45 PM - which was an hour and 15 minutes late, thereby really screwing up any opportunity for some sightseeing of the train display(s) and other "good stuff" at Union Station. Scheduled departure time was 3:05 PM.

Pete did manage to scramble off the train for about 15 minutes, while I remained on board for the trip through the wye, to turn the train around. Love that experience - one that most times the passengers never get. This was my 3rd. Been there, done that before with late arrivals. Anyway, the train returned to the station, picked up the awaiting passengers and off we went back to eastern Missouri.

We booked Business Class accommodations aboard the three car train - two Horizon coaches and an Amfleet Cafe Car. Business class is located within the cafe car. However, Amtrak screwed up royally when they made up the train in Chicago - as the cafe car was backwards. Meaning, the passengers from the coaches who wanted to visit the snack bar and use the tables in the cafe car had to pass through what was supposed to be a private seating area for business class. That's why they charge a premium to sit there! Good grief - you'd think ...... [tdn]

Also, the amenties are long gone - no newspaper, no juices, no coffee or tea, and no voucher for a scandwich. Gone, gone, gone. Just pay the man, sit there and be happy!
Obviously, Amtrak will hear from us about this.

Now, the trip wasn't all negative in that we had a great time delving into this 'n that while seated at a table in the cafe car. During the afternoon return, Pete coerced me into having a drink or three, just to make things "sociable." <grin> I know this much - he owes me a round! [swg]

It was fun, but not at all in keeping with the positive experiences I've had over about 16 years of making that run. There have good, not so good and really poor trips. The overwhelming majority of times, the blame can be squarely and fairly placed opon the shoulders of UP. I'd say that was the case yesterday, with exception of the "Lummox" who had the cafe car coupled "backwards."

After Pete got off the train at JCity, I had another 3 hours to go - as we were in and out of passing sidings for that leg as well. Train arrived at 10:23 PM, about 2 hours and 20 minutes late -and I got home at 11:15 PM. It was a long day. Gettin' far too old for this stuff. [swg]

Pix [?] Pete took some good ones and I'll have them ready for Sunday's Photo Posting Day!

I've read through quite a few Posts - the most current to the older ones, but I'm hardly finished. From what I've seen, you guys really have kept things going not only yesterday but the day before as well. I've had 2 days "away," more or less, and am convinced that our "nucleus" is alive and well! [tup][tup][tup]

Cindy is most deserving of all the praise and oogling one wishes to give! So, Mike you are NOT in trouble for that - HOWEVER - you DO deserve a Tweeeeeeeeeeeet, Tweeeeeeeeeeet, Rules Violation, Rules Violation - Rule #1 failure to greet the barkeep -and - Rule #2 failure to order a drink and/or food for that very well done piece written by your father! [swg] We'll let you off the hook, this time - but I know P is out there somewhere, wonderin', "How come HE gets off, but not me [?]" [swg] Reason - anyone who has a "blinking" signature, surely deserves to be Tweeeeeeeeted <grin>

Later, guys!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[red p]

Hi Cindy, Jack and coke please.
I really enjoyed the Christmas travels, just make sure we dont use up all the red ink..

Heres something you can give to Tom when you see him.

The National Limited 9/10/73
Amtrak -530,531
mail -1000 series
baggage-dorm -1400 series
10-6 sleeper -2600 series
10-6 sleeper -2600 series
diner lounge -8330 series
coach -4440 and 4554 series
coach -4440 and 4554 series
coach -4440 and 4554 series
coach -no series given
coach -no series given

P

[jdonald]

Good afternoon Cindy-you are looking fine[:I](that will probably cost me) how about a hot chocolate and a round for the house provided the CN CP etc track crews are'nt here yet. Too close to Christmas to afford a round that size.

Its a snowy, snowy day here in S.W.ON. 15-20cm.(6 to 8 in.) predicted. Looks like the snowblower crew will be called out sometime today.

Wanswheel thanks for the pic of the Comet. My curosity is satisfied. It looks something like the Zehhys of the same timespan.

Al interesting piece on the Columbian. The B&O faced pretty stiff competition on the NY-Chicago service. Did they compete on the same level as the 20th Cent. and the Broadway[?]

Doug Looking forward to more on the track maintenance subj. Guess I wasn't the only one was always reminded of a doodlebug whenever I saw a Sperry Car.
Reminds me of my first encounter with a doodlebug as a pre-teen maybe 10 or 11; returning with my family from Huntsville ON after summer vacation, we missed our connection in Toronto. Seems my Dad had found the tunnel that connected Union Station to the Royal York Hotel and decided to have a quick beer. He apparently became disoriented[:D]and didn't find his way back for 2 hours so our connection was well and truly missed. The next train only went as far as London where we had to catch the local to Sarnia. My mother referred to it as the "diesel" but after becoming more train wise I realized that it was a doodlebug. It was about 98deg. inside and the noise from exhaust stacks was deafening especially since all the windows were open. That was the only time I ever rode on one but did see one on the Sarnia-London locals quite often.

Bye for now-keep it on the rails.

Don

[Anonymous]

Okay, now we can take a deep breath and a sigh of relief Tom. I hope you and Pete left my "adopted" Home Town as you found it.[(-D] Seriously, we are happy to see you both returned probably rested and wiser for the experience. You have mail Tom. Hi again Nick, didn't I see you somewhere very recently? Okay Cindy, Im finally outta here knowing things are back to S.O.P. I'll be checking in again later in the day after some interminable "rat killing." Stay well and warm everybody. Happy rails.

[nickinwestwales]

Have just had updated screen so cancel that last bit[^]
Welcome back Boss-speak in a bit,small one due for collection from school n[C=:-)]

[nickinwestwales]

Well good morning SIR THEODORE, AL,DOUG & MIKE,nice to see you all this fine day-AL -hope your `visit` yesterday was uneventful,nice run down on the B&O-the `elder statesman` of U.S roads if I have my history right
DOUG-good stuff on the Sperry cars,always interested in non revenue workings-the oh so essential `poor relation` of the glamourpuss passenger hauls-nice one[tup]
MIKE-Nice festive trip tale,glad you are enjoying the photo albums-mostly through [4:-)]TOM & ROBS hard work & time. I guess its one of the few areas in which I can make a small contribution -pix of stuff the rest of you might not be familiar with.
SIR THEODORE-will E-Mail the PECO factory,I`m certain they still produce `how to` literature for all their products which will explain far more clearly & succintly than I could,failing that its out with the safety crayons-either way,watch this space[^]
My remarks r.e. Uncle Sam were in no way aimed at your good self,but meant to give a longer perspective on your own Rats patoot -will explain more fully in the staff room after work[swg]--did you realise that whilst most of our pastries are available in various sizes,the prune Danish only come in regular........( well,it is Panto season after all).
Safest to assume for now that our steamed proprieter is enjoying his well earned day of rest or that events in the south of the state have `dominoed` traffic snarl-ups and delayed his return-You might check the media for me to see if there are any reports of this ( I wouldn`t know where to begin ) He has mail on his desk,so expect to hear from him soonest.
Right,I`m off to town to check out the fish market ready for tonight so will leave you all to the oh so tender mercies of the ladies,see you all later,nick[C=:-)]

[siberianmo]

G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #44

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the Southern Pacific (SP) from a 1949 advertisement in my personal collection.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Come to Arizona on the swift “Golden State”

– the only streamliner direct to Tucson, Phoenix, Palm Springs

Smooth-riding, luxurious – Southern Pacific-Rock Island’s fast Golden State from Chicago via El Paso and Douglas is the only streamliner direct to Southern Arizon’a resort country and Palm Springs Pullman and reclining chair car. Moderate extra fare.

Try this famous train on your next trip to Arizona or California.

Through Pullmans from New York and St. Louis,

P.S. Don’t forget that our Sunset Limited (New Orleans-Los Angeles) also goes direct to Southern Arizona and Palm Springs.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S*P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . The friendly Southern Pacific . . . .


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]

CHECK THE MONDAY SUMMARY and INDEX PAGES FOR MORE GREAT NOSTALGIA POSTS!

[siberianmo]

Good Morning Gents!

An uncharacteristic first Post of the day for moi - no SUMMARY - yet. Just wanted y'all to know I'm back, but will be in and out for the day, so once again Cindy has the bar! [yeah][wow]

I haven't had the opportunity to peruse the Posts of yesterday and this morning, but I surely willl. I have noted that Theodorebear Ted & nickinwestwales Nick came through with flying colors in my absence in keeping this bar of ours rollin' along. [tup][tup][tup] Thanx to you, very much - and of course the regulars too, who pitched in with what appear to be some typically informative and creative information. [yeah] [tup][tup][tup]

There won't be a "report" as such regarding the Amtrak trip to KCity with pwolfe Pete, however, I plan to "hit the highlights," before the day is done. [tup]

I'll be back in late morning, hopefully by then, I'll have the SUMMARY ready for Posting. <phew>

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[Anonymous]

Good mornin Al and Doug, I was just going out the door when I saw you drop in.[^] First, Al, I rode the Columbian once in the 1960's when it had become obvious that B & O was sliding down that "slippery slope" to poor maintenance, lax schedules and a general disinterest in passenger accomodation and service. The transition from B & O to Santa Fe in Chicago was as if moving from the 19th to the 20th century. The Capitol Limited, Shenendoah, and Royal Blue seem to have a more linguiring fall to their final demise as far as quality of service. It might also just have been an unsual coincidence of course.

Barndad Doug, I was hoping that the Sperry Rail Service would eventually come along and your the brave soul who did it, thanks.[tup] Aside from having a "hot button" for anything resembling a "Doodlebug," I often wondered how a unit moving along at 13 m.p.h. could possibly detect a miniscule fault in something like a 90 to 120 lb. section of "high iron." Certainly looking forward to more on this "tech" end of the Industry. I sort of missed seeing track section gangs working the ROW while on board but ballast agitator machines and "ribbon rail" techniques soon put the "gandy dancer" into the "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" niche oinhistrory.[V] Hey, lookin' sharp in the Drum Major's Shako Tunic and Baton. I was always marching in the first rank behind the Peacock. Remember being the first to encounter the horse hockey in long escorted parades?[:O] I'd like to stay and chat more on this and the integral part of railroadiana you mentioned but Cindy now has the bar well in hand. Besides she's a lot better lookin' than me. Has anyone heard from our venerable Proprietor? I'm getting a little concerned. I'll see you guys "down the raod."

[Anonymous]

Good morning Tom and friends! I'll have just 2 1/2 light-breakfasts today, as I need to watch my weight!

Mike, I surely enjoyed most of your article on the Notre Dame bands fight with the NYC, except the part where the Irish beat Ohio State! Take a lookie at this: http://ohiostatedrummajor.com/images/secrist.jpg . Yep ... that's me in 1976, leading the OSU Marching Band in a traditional "ramp" entrance. I was fortunate to attend a Rose, Orange, and Sugar bowl in my years there, as well as game 3 of the Yankee/Reds World Series.
Anyhow, your article was really terrific, and I know we all appreciate the time it took for you to type. Excellent work!

Hat's off to sir knights Nick and Ted for their continual care of Our Place yesterday. You guys really outdid yourselves!


Thanks for the "El Capitan" Sante Fe ad yesterday Tom, and thanks to Al for his Streamliner series #27 and 28! Good stuff !!

At the risk of not being "classic", I humbly submit a series on rail maintenace, with the spotlight on the Sperry car. I figure that if the company has been around for 75 years, it qualifies as classic. You be the judge:

Maintaining the Way by John Uckley – Rail Classics Jan. 1984



It’s late afternoon along a double-track main line. There are no trains in sight as far as the eye can see. Let’s take a closer look at the railroad landscape on the north/south route. The continuously-welded steel on both sets of tracks has been spiked to creosoted ties and sturdy tie plates that are firmly embedded in a heavy layer of stone ballast that is properly banked and ditched for good drainage and proper track alignment. Freshly painted automatic block signal towers guard their section of the main line as they await the passage of a train; silent sentinels winking green, red, and then yellow when a fast freight goes gliding by. A car storage siding branches off of the main line rails, The switch points have been carefully maintained and an electric switch lock has been installed on the hand-thrown switch mechanism to guard against possible vandalism. Further down the tracks, a crossover has been installed to allow trains to switch from the south-bound main to the north-bound main or visa versa in case of a derailment or a maintenance-of-way crew working in the area should block one of the lines.

Suddenly, the sound of an air horn drowns out the pastoral elements of a country afternoon. The restless chirping of birds, the high-pitched singing of crickets, and the gently rustle of wind through the trees must take second place to the passage of a freight train. In the distance, a high-beam headlight forms in the shimmer of heat and humidity lingering over the rails and ballast. In a few moments, the low rumble becomes immediate thunder as a pair of GP40-2s roar over the main line at 50 miles-per-hour. A colorful procession of freight rolling stock becomes imminent: tank cars, hoppers, auto racks, gondolas, boxcars, reefers, and a sprinkling of piggyback service pound the sturdy rails with a weight of on-rushing commerce. A bay window caboose whisks past our line of vision and the show is almost over. The caboose marker lights fade into the distant sunshine and a hustled stillness descends over the main line and its environment again. It seems so simple for a train to trundle over a main line, but in truth it is so very complicated, expensive, and time-consuming for a railroad to keep the right-of-way in efficient operating condition.

One of the most noticed and most important pieces of railroad maintenance equipment now in use are the Sperry Rail Service detector cars, radiant in their bright yellow paint scheme. Some of the older cars are possessed with a curious aura of nostalgia. They have retained something of their exterior gas-electric doodlebug heritage, while at the same time processing all the efficiency of a modern track surveillance car.

Sperry is headquartered at Dansbury, Connecticut, and is a division of Automation Industries, Inc. The company uses its fleet of 25 detector cars and the techniques of magnetic induction and ultrasonics to identify rails that have manufacturing flaws or other imperfections hidden deep within the metal itself. These flaws might lie embedded in a section of rail for years and then suddenly this piece of high iron might snap under the pressures of extreme summertime or wintertime weather conditions, leaving the way open for a serious train derailment. Magnetic induction scanners spot these problems inherent in the rail itself, while sophisticated ultrasonic scanners search out and discover rail joint defects.

When you see a yellow Sperry car plying the rails of a main line, you can assume the crew and the equipment are conducting a thorough job of testing. During the last 54 years, the Sperry cars have tested over 6.8 million miles of rails and detected over 3.7 million defects. Sperry rail cars comprise the largest rail detection service in the world. They have definitely cornered the market.

Let’s look into the workday of a Sperry rail car and follow its four-man crew through the paces of their daily regimen. 7:00 a.m. is the usual starting time for Sperry crews. The men rise and shine and eat their breakfast. Then it is time for work to begin. The two engines on the test car must be warmed up and all testing apparatus must be visually inspected, lubricated, and calibrated before the car can venture out on the main line.

Two fully-qualified rail testing operators are positioned in the recording room at the rear of the Sperry car where monitoring of the line actually takes place. One of the men is the chief operator, who is in charge of the entire car. Another crew member pilots the car from the head-end. A fourth crew member is usually a trainee who divides his time between learning to pilot the car and testing rail in the recording room.

The Sperry car is usually ready to roll out onto the high iron at about 8:00 a.m. Besides the regular four-man crew, a railroad pilot and a maintenance-of-way official are aboard the car. One of the men carries a set of train orders issued by the railroad and authorizing the car’s testing movements. The Sperry car is subject to the same train rules that govern the railroad’s own freight trains. Railroad employees must be on board the testing vehicle to coordinate the car movements with the railroad dispatcher.

Sperry detection cars test the rails at a speed of 13 miles per hour. The cars have a top speed of 65 miles per hour. Sometimes, the diesel-powered cars require helper service in negotiating mountain terrain out west. Most major U.S. lines receive Sperry inspections every three months or so.

The head-end Sperry pilot receives all instructions from the recording operator seated at the recording table in the read end of the car. These movement indications are made by means of an electric buzzer system. The recording table is placed so that the operator can watch the manipulations of the tape and also keep his gaze on the rail as it appears from under the car. Joints and other rail structures and rail structures and right-of-way surfaces also show up on the sensitive tape and this situation allows the operator to match up the tape indications with the rail structure and right-of-way surfaces, thus separating healthy track from defective track.

The examining operator is also situated in the recording section of the car to give a hand to the recording operator. He keeps tabs on the Car Movement Report which records the amount of time that the car is on the road and also the actual number of miles tested, plus such important factors as delay times and periods when the Sperry car might be running light (during non-testing periods).

[:I] much more to follow! [:I]

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. Since I mssed work yesterday I must go in early this AM to make up part of yesterday. Just time for a coffee and diet pastry from the Mentor Bakery.

PASSENGERFAN AL's STREAMLINER CORNER #28

COLUMBIAN B&O trains 25 - 26 Inaugurated December 19,1941 Jersey City - Chicago all coach streamliners operating nightly in each direction 981.5 miles 21 hours each way.

The B&O launched their answer to the PRR TRAIL BLAZER and NYC PACEMAKER on December 19, 1941 an all coach streamliner between Chicago and Jersey City. The B&O COLUMBIAN like the rival PRR TRAILBLAZER consistsed of heavyweight cars streamlined in the roads own shops.

Initially steam power was assigned to the COLUMBIANS but diesels were often substituted and by wars end diesels were the power of choice for the COLUMBIAN.

The B&O remodeled and streamlined the heavyweight cars for the COLUMBIANS in the roads Mt. Clare shops in Baltimore. The trains were only permitted to enter service as the government had not yet placed restrictions on new trains entering service.

The COLUMBIAN proved to be a major asset for the B&O during WW II. Each of the seven car consist grew with the addition of heavyweight cars too as many as sixteen cars ber consist. The two consists of the original consists less power are listed below.

CONSIST ONE
1306 Baggage 12-Crew Dormitory Buffet 16-Seat Lounge Car

3558 54-Revenue Seat Coach

3560 54-Revenue Seat Coach

1082 47-Seat Dining Car

3562 54-Revenue Seat Coach

3570 46-Revenue Seat Coach with Stewardess Room

3303 Buffet 37-Seat Lounge Observation

CONSIST TWO

1309 Baggage 12-Crew Dormitory Buffet 16 Seat Lounge Car

3559 54-Revenue Seat Coach

3561 54-Revenue Seat Coach

1081 47-SEat Dining Car

3563 54-Revenue Seat Coach

3571 46-Revenue Seat Coach with Stewardess Room

3302 Buffet 37-Seat Lounge Observation

TTFN AL

[Anonymous]

Another chilly mornin but fine for getting out and taking care of "loose ends." Well Tom, I'm looking forward to a synopsis of your yesterday, if it is out for "public domain."[(-D] As you can see from the bar being in perfect order (except for the chess pieces scattered about), yesterday was "slim pickens." I'll grab a Hot Java and a prune Danish, then on to the obligatory tasks incumbant to the Season. I can't stay long, but Cindy is pulling a "double shift" this A.M. and will accomodate all the "Breakfast Clubbers" with the usual fresh pastries from Mentor's and beverages of choice. So, Members and guests, hows about a happy greeting for Cindy when you enter this fine morning? I'll be returning after a bit to see everything is humming along. Happy rails.

[Anonymous]

Hi Wanswheel, made it just under the wire, eh? That's fne, we appeciate all the business we can muster today.[tup] Its been a long, dry day and evening hereabouts. Great to see you are up and around, guess the Holiday shopping hasn't taken its' toll yet. I can relate to the "no dining car service" that you mentioned. I had two trips via the de Mexico (Padres Negras to Mexico City and Mexico City to Guadalajara amd return) where boxed hot dinners were brought to the first class passengers, it was bloody awful.[xx(] I learned to jump off the train at the first city of any size and get "take out" from the station cantina. Well, I see Leon the night man is here, so Nick, old Chap, it is slumber land for yours truly. We did our best, just couldn't squeeze "blood from a turnip," right?[swg] Tom, she is locked up and secure for another day tomorrow which will hopefully see you back still "in the pink." Good night and thank you to those who dropped by to send their regards.[tup] Happy rails all.

[wanswheel]

http://www.midwesthsr.org/graphics/cometbwtrain.jpg
Comet pic ^ (engineer not flinching)

Hi Tom and everyone, since Don has bought a round for the house, thank you, I'll buy a round for the roundhouse, and if there's a pound of ground round in the house, fix me a hamburger and I'll gladly pay you Tuesday.
It's a joy for me to put my Dad's article on the board. He would have loved the Internet, but trainwise his era was about right for him. Steam and streamliners, domes and dining cars on a relatively huge variety of railroads. Also I envy his frame of reference for "big-time" football. Knute Rockne and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. (The Irish are in the Fiesta Bowl Jan 3.)
I've been reading all the posts and looking at all the pictures. The hard part is commentary. Major impediments include attention deficit disorder, non-fluid thought processing, and general forgetfullness. Also I can't type for shh!t.
John, I googled to find the answer to Pete's question as to USS. Do you get to ride in the helicopters?
Al, the extent of your travels by train is vast, clearly you're more than a dry scholar. Here too the VAMC is slow and more crowded than it was 20 years ago. I'm grateful to have it, but it does seem they've trimmed the budget in terms of ratio of doctors to patients and such.
Ted and Nick, interesting dialogue to keep the lights on here. I do look at all the pictures on Sunday, including the '55 Chevy and the lame-duck Studebaker. And I've seen most of the photo bucket thumbs at Tom's and Rob's, including Ted's and Nick's. What can I say? It's all too beautiful.
Except Doug's ghastly grey dangling locomotive conking that poor woman on the sidewalk. Glad to know it was 1895, so she would've died of something else by now. "You can be sure if it's Westinghouse" according to Betty Furness.
Which reminds me of late great Richard Pryor, star of The Silver Streak.

My Christmas train ride that I missed the boat on the other day:
Whole family went up to Vermont on the day train, Dec. 23, 1962. Except one brother stayed home with his girl friend. To visit paternal grandparents. So that's Mom and Dad and 8 of their 9 kids trekking through the snow to the LIRR, westbound and change at Jamaica, which lead us knot into Penn Station, and onto the IRT subway to Times Square and the shuttle to Grand Central, where we got right on board the New Haven coach for the comfy ride to Springfield, at where we needed to move up to the antique B&M coach, which was handed off to the CV at White River Junction for the climb up through the pass in the Green Mountains and the coast down into St. Albans. Slow clang, clang clang into the train shed sometime after dark. The voice of the vendor has been in my head for all these years: "We have sandwiches and candy bars. Who'll have an orange juice, tomahto juice or a root beer? There will be no dining car service on this train all the way to Montreal."

[Anonymous]

Okay Nick I'm back, thanks for spelling me at the bar. Cindy, decided to "hang in there" until Leon does the lock up after "last call." That lets us both "off the hook" for the wee hours if it comes to that. Good sport Cindy and I know she can use the "overtime." Well, good evening jdonald Don, Cindy has your nip covered. Yes, I too would like to see the Comet's appearance. I've exhausted my resources and had no luck retrieving old photos. Two very unfortunate disasters, the dam break in S.E. MO and the fire at the petrol depot north of London, both without fatalities. Maybe it is the season for miracles, after all? Please forgive me if I'm not totally focused. I'm viewing "Inside Grand Central," a documentary on the National Geographic Channel whilst typing this Post.[tup] I've seen it before but gotta catch it "one more time."

Nick, thanks for remembering the "routing" cunumdrum on my Pike. One "arm" of the double slip connects to a through track to the Terminal and the other connects to a 3-way switch (also Shinohara) and those 3 tracks are "stub end" in the yards. I like your idea of using the Peco option, wasn't aware that Peco had "live" frogs. I'll do almost anything to avoid using relays. Sure, I would appreciate an e-mail relating to the "insulated" rail joiners version and thank you in advance for your trouble. Common rail proceedures go "out the window' as far as I can tell thus far. I am a bit nonplussed as to your last post in re: the White House. Was it something I said? Your elaboration on this would be most welcomed via e-mail as well. I often refer to the European press as well as other overseas news agencies through a URl known as the Drudge reports. A particular favorite of mine is the The London Telegraph. The Times and B.B.C. follow along the lines of 75% of our own "mainstream media," while the Telegrah seems to have a different ageda. Glad to chat over the net with you on any catagory of your choice. It has been a slow go today and it isn't likely we have missed many posts. It least there is some comfort in that. Well, I must check on some future orders for tomorrow, so I'll check back when Leon is here, So long for now.

[nickinwestwales]

O.K chaps,thats me for the moonlight mile,tomorrows` another day,another dollar (curse those union rates)-The girls will pander to your every need (no ,thats pander Not panda) until the lord and master`s return,see you for fish fry night, may your deity of choice smile on you,sleep well,nick,[C=:-)]

[nickinwestwales]

Hi guys,back for more,
DON -welcome buddy,latest thinking on the tank farm fire is a lorry driver flicking the `kill` switch on his motor.....
TED-today is obviously synchronicity day-have just spent a pleasant hour watching the other screen,Bill Wymans Rhythm Kings in concert ( Feat. Georgie Fame ,Albert Lee,Andy Fairweather Low et al )-kicked off with mystery train-of recent mention herein and then rewarded my hubris in assuming your "days like this" quote to be from Lennon song by playing the Mose Allison number of that name. Albert Lee playing sublime guitar throughout the set (by the end,the other players were just staring slack jawed) and for a grand finale "tear it up" with one of the other players standing behind Lee,reaching around his shoulders and playing a duet on the same guitar,absolutely breathtaking stuff-well worth a look if showing over there ( 50 years of rock`n`roll concert from Liverpool docks,all material from 1955 or near enough )
Well looks like a good sort of evening to have the gals polishing the brasswork,dusting down the booths and generally making the best use of slack time.
Sounds like the three track gangs are assembling in the pool room for the monthly pool,darts & dominoes triathlon,which is now refereed by Leon & Vito the hit after previous unpleasantness,Boris is in the galley `stocktaking` ( one,some,many,lots,one,some,many,lots - a fairly redundant exercise but it keeps him away from the paying customers ) Tex is out in the yard switching beer crates around the `timesaver` track plan that TED & ROB have painted out for him with Awk acting as dispatcher-I vote we paint him in C.N. Zebra colours (orange/red head & tail with b&w flanks-the kids will love it [swg].
The squeeks & giggles emanating from upstairs suggest that SIR MANAGER THEODORE is on top of the accounts,amongst other things [:-,] so I shall retire to a quiet corner with my beloved Rickenbacker Bass to prepare for the festive gig season (so far,boxing day -Cardigan $400,N.Y.Eve-Llangwm Club $1200...happy days are here again-I`ll even sing the Elvis medley,albeit very badly.)
O.K shout if you need me,I`ll be over by the lithograph of the frankly implausible Norris 6-2-0 with 2 tenders and a garden shed for a cab,later,nick[C=:-)]

[jdonald]

Evening all- after reading through all the posts I'm not sure who has the bar now. Any how about the usual Alex. K and a round for anybody else at the bar.
[bow]for Nick Rob and Ted for keeping things rolling in the captains absence[:)]

Just got my copy of Ian Wilson "Steam Through London" and lo and behold on page 3 is a great photo of 4-6-4T #48 the very loco I mentioned to Robyesterday. Afraid my 2 pics taken with a Brownie box camera don't quite match up. I'll try sending them anyway.

Doug enjoyed the article on the RPO. Must have been quite a trick to sort that mail on swaying train with dim lights. Mike great piece on the GTW/NYC . Do you think anyone would go the extra mile nowdays like the GTW did[?]Al another great one in the Streamliner series-would like to see a picture of the Comet-sounds like a bit of an oddball piece of equipment. NickYes I will take that ride on the Can-Am, what I've seen so far looks like a great pike.BTW the great oil explosion made prime-time news here-a miracle no one was killed. Do they know how it started yet[?]

Well back to "Steam Through London"

Bye for now-Keep it on the rails

Don

[nickinwestwales]

Hey TED-You guys are seeing it from within,try downloading some copy from the British & European press,trust me, Uncle Sam does not enjoy the prestige that was once his due,I shan`t elaborate,since this is not the place,suffice it to say that in many quarters the white house enjoys much the same degree of popularity as a yeast infection
Like yourself,I shall be back in an hour or so , P.S found Boris disco-dancing to RED P`s new logo earlier -strange days indeed (most peculiar mama),later,nick[C=:-)]

[nickinwestwales]

Right,thats that little job taken care of, O.K. SIR MANAGER THEODORE looks like its thee & me for now,lets us take our ease at the bar and discuss lofty matters of great import-failing that we could always `tie one on`,swap dirty gags & generally shoot the s**t.[swg].
Your mention of the reservoir breach and the long arm of coincidence reminds me that Britains 6th largest fuel store blew up on sunday morning ( It may have made the press over there ) by a miracle,no fatals & only minor walking wounded although a large part of S.E.England now under a thick black cloud--Could this be chaos theory in action-you know,the butterflys wing/major eathquake stuff-Your powers are great Skywalker,You must use them wisely.....hmmm
I never did conclude whether you had solved your power-routing problems?-Since we are somewhat out of synch here I shall assume no & proceed accordingly
I have a vague & somewhat nebulous memory ( a statement which will stand on its own) of relays being mentioned,a possibly easier route might be a PECO accessory which is fairly easy to retro-fit and doesn`t require a capacitor discharge unit to trigger.
Its a simple sliding contact panel designed to be used with their live frog turnouts,in essence,it is connected to the tie bar & as you line the switch ( I`m really getting a grip on this language thing dontcha know ) the polarity changes with it.
If used for anything other than stub-tracks,one is best off using insulated joiners (also from PECO in their red label code 83 range) on the `inner` rails at the `heel` end of the turnout and powering the rest of the track direct from the bus.
They can be surface or under-board mounted and whilst designed for use with the companys solenoid switch motors,I`m sure anyone who can maintain a trombone in working order `on the road` should have no trouble in hooking them up-if not,I`ll build a demo piece and E-Mail some blow-by-blow pix.
Back to trailing/facing turnouts,I suspect that since `over there` you have a largely single track network ( at least originally ) the option of facing or trailing was not there,over here,the bulk of main-line trackage has been double from the early days giving us the luxury of options-if the spur is on the wrong side,simply throw in a diamond and there you go.
Ireland,it must be said,is somewhat of a law unto itself-The classic example being Limerick Jn,where lines converged from all cardinal points of the compass and all had to set back into and possibly also out of the station (still do I believe,although PETE may have more recent data).
Ah I hear the sound of parrot,`dillo & nosferatu`s ugly kid brother locked in mortal combat in the galley,back in a bit, Lucy,be a poppet and fill us up over here please,yes I know I`m a patronising sack`o`***e but do it anyway...........pretty please with sparkly bits on..thank you
in a bit,nick,[C=:-)]

[Anonymous]

There can't be much doubt as to which of the two, "feast or faimine," we face today, can threre? Hi Cindy, Ruthy, Lucy and Nick, Think I'll have a early P.M. C.R. and soda w/lime twist. Well, if most folks are doing their card writing and Christmas shopping, as I should be, its understandable. CM3, good of you to say hello this fine Wednesday. It must've been a great experience for your Father to ride in the Comet's cab back in "the days." I don't know if anyone is "into" videos of cab view rail trips that are available. I have a couple and there isn't anything I would rather do. This is "old hat" to P earlydiesels, barndad Doug, and some other Members. But for many of us it is a rare, if ever made, experience.[V] Even with "surround sound" and plenty of decibels, the T.V. in a living room isn't even close. On the other hand, would most of us really want to be in the cab of say an 0-6-0 shifter on a freezing night with the roasting hot back fire wall on one side and sub Arctic winds blowing on the other? Proabaly not! It is sooo different between when you "must" and when you "wish," isn't it? Since this is a great day for Solitary, perhaps I may be allowed a few visions that would normally be so far [#offtopic] that I would be ceremoniously "drummed" unto Kodiak Island, Alaska.[:0] Looking back is really a preoccupation with most of us. I'm wondering what the future may hold for us "rail gypsies" (at heart), say in the next 2 decades? We see a lot of "light rail" options coming into fruition all over North America. The U.K. and Europe are, of course, "past masters" of this vital link in passenger transport over the past Century. Now, with N.A. airports being pressed ever harder with commuter and "short hops," and freeway traffic from those airports to urban areas practically in "grid lock," what must be the alternatives? Scuuuze me but some form of independent rail movement seems the only choice. Monorails and subways are terribly expensive and few investors have the vision or the will for any such "long term" investments. Right, like it or not, we must look to the Federal Govt. through public taxes to deal with the inevitable. There must be some "robbing Peter to pay Paul," which has never bothered Capitol Hill in the past, except when it comes to a "projected" public crisis. I offer the levies on the Mississippi River in New Orleans as my first item of evidence. The fatal crash of the airliner at Midway Terminal in Chicago would do just as well. The 1,000 ft. easement for uncontrolled landings just wasn't there. The States are facing a infrastructural night mare, as we see I-States, ports, terminals, et al., disintegrating all around us. Even the Nation's power grid is vulnerable to the slightist of mishaps which could have catastrophic effects for the Hemisphere.

We see so called "high tech" running amuck on a daily basis, yet nothing is "in place" for monitoring the use of such contrivances until the odious results come trickling in. Micro wave ovens were interfering with pace makers. Bombs are being detonated with cell phones. Satellites know where you live and when and where you travel. Consumer data banks know more about you than "you" do, on and on. Don't wi***o "fall off the deep end" here but does it seem strange to you that a million dollar "invronmental impact study" must be done for a 25 mile ROW from St. Pete to Tampa while the latest "trendy" drug will be placed "in market" that is a poterntial killer? Not sure anything can be done or if anyone really wants "anything done" to bring reason back to the table. Okay, I've had my little rant and it was time well spent in the Rat's Patoot Room. Hey, I recommend it for those feeling a bit "out of sorts," works for me. Gals thanks and go ahead home and Nick, I'll be in later for "last call" and a "door shake" tonight. Stay safe and warm everybody, bye for now.

[nickinwestwales]

Just back from school play -under strict orders to upload pix of little horror for her dear mother,back A.S.A.P,[C=:-)]

[Anonymous]

WHOA, looks like the "bottom dropped out." Well, with the deluge of posts yesterday, I guess it isn't really surprising. Hey CM3, I totally agree with your Grandmother's assessment of the El Capitan. I rode El Cap a couple of times Chicago to K.C., MO and and had a lot more fun than on the Super Chief. It was a different crowd altogether. While a staid, consevative atmosphere is appreciated, it "ain't much fun." The El Cap passengers and crew seemed to be enjoying the trip moreso than arriving at the destination; my kind of folks for sure.[tup] Of course, those beautiful hi-level cars and friendly staff made a difference as well. WOW, does anyone have a photo of the New Haven Comet? I've been rustling through my archives but so far, ZIP.

As Nick pointed out (if I may paraphrase), R.R.'s in the States really never pursued short passenger consists for long (sounds like a oxymoron, doesn't it?). Sure, I "get it" as far as the long hauls and tying-up the same miles of RTW for fewer paid fares but wouldn't it be nice to see just one or two really "special" articulated trains available even for extra fares? "Whipping a dead horse?" Yep, "you can say that again," but please don't! Cindy, a round for the house will come to about $6.00 today, unless Nick is imbibing in French Champagne....[thinks all us Yanks are rich, don't cha know]. When I said "back in a flash with a flash," I had no idea it would be "for real." Thankfully, there have been no reported fatalities in MO.

Gents the sandwich board is open and Tom makes sure the cold cuts are fresh daily and the breads are "out of the oven," so what's your pleasure? Earlydiesels Dan, I haven't recieved a reply to my Western Union wire on the "B&O in the Civil War" book. I'm keenly intrested in obatining a copy, if it's still "Out there."[^] BTW, if I'm not mistaken, this is "Pike Perspectives Day" 'round these parts. Mike, John, Don, if you haven't had a chance to take a ride on the Can-Am yet, you surely are missing a "class" experience. Just go to Tom's Profile and bring up his "Rail Images" album and voila, you gotta ride to remember. Sorry, I'm not able to bring up Nostalgia or past Ads from the "Golden Years," I'm just not in that league.[V] Maybe I can, at least, incourage some of you who are modelers to share a bit of your efforts with everyone?

Most of you know that I'm into HO gauge in the attached garage and do some limited G gauge outside along my privacy fence. People ask me if I have a HO Pike or a museum. Almost everything I own is from the '50s' and '60s'. Code 83 Atlas is on the mainline and Shinohara 83 turnouts X-overs and switches in the yards and Terminal area. Except for two turnouts in the tunnel, I use ground throws (N gauge Caboose), only because I want "hands on" operations. The two switches in the tunnel are Atlas # 6 remotes and well hidden from viewer's scrutiny.[:O] They switch a train from one mainline to the other (double track main) for bringing the train into the terminal rather than completing another full circle. A train running in the opposite direction brings it from the terminal track to the "main." Actually, the second of the two "mains" is a disguised, long passing siding, clear?[:O] Don't worry, it confuses me from time to time also.[V] I'm doing B&O and Southern Rwy models of the proto types. Hey, I better not "shoot the whole wad" here, or I'll have nothing left for more posts later today. From the look of it, I'll need all the ammo I can muster.

Okay, if you have the chance, please drop by and let me know there hasn't been a neuclear event or a global catastrophy everywhere else but Florida. Now I know how Tom feels on a slow day. Right Boris, I'm off again, so no hanky panky with the gals. Don't hit the BONG......Lawd, lawd, see you good folks in a bit.[:(!]

[nickinwestwales]

Well,happy is the day that has me back indoors before 3.pm (local)-and on price-work too[^]-SIR THEODORE-knew I could rely on you-[swg],Cornwallis` Revenge it is [^][^].
You are a braver soul than I -exercising Boris on rubbish collection day is a risk fraught activity,he always seems so pleased with his little `finds`-I suppose we should regard it as re-cycling of sorts....
AL & CM3,good to see the `top of the day `crew in fine fettle-CM3,the house thanks you for the round,as always Al-if the `doc` pulls on surgical gloves and asks the nurse to step outside,hit the floor running.
Nice stuff on the Comet,one doesn`t associate short consists with your side of the pond. I love the corporate logic that dictated that so many people wanted to use it that they replaced it.
Now one of you two used the phrase `future ex-wife`recently-Jimmy Vaughn & the Fabulous Thunderbirds ??-or was it next ex-wife,I guess that `scans` better for a lyric..ho hum.
Well,lets spin some toons on the old Wurlitzer and slope off to collect the small demon from school-Steve Earle`s Copperhead Road to blow off the dust,Dead Flowers by the Stones,Misguided Angel by the Cowboy Junkies,Diamond Mine by Blue Rodeo And Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs for a touch of Island sunshine.
Right Boris-go clean shed,sweep yard, put out empties,change the `dillo dirt box-Then wa***wice.!!!
be lucky guys,later,nick[C=:-)]

[Anonymous]

Cindy, it's me and Lucy back again. The Till came out "on the money."[tup] Mornin Mike, I enjoyed the Article as much on the rebound as on the first reading. What a perfect "Squelch" for the N.Y.C. Potentates![tup] Somehow I knew your Dad had to be a trombone player.[swg] Passengerfan Al, some where, some how, I do recall seeing the New Haven 9200, probably in an old M.R., not sure. 60 m.p.h. isn't a bad averaqe between the two cities. If anyone has ever driven the route, you can appreciate the time savings involved.

"Streamliner Corner" has become a mainstay hereabouts and I, for one, can attest to the many controversies your Topic has resolved, just love it.[tup] Nick is sooo right regarding the "rubber necking" that some folks delight in scrutinizing disaster sites. FLASH, I just heard a reservoir has been breached in S.E. MO. with a 20 ft. high wall of water surging through the lowlands. Thank goodness all our MO Members are no where near the area. Is that ironic Nick? Okay. wehre was I? Oh yes, R.R. safety practices in the States are notoriously slipshod. Especially in the earlier days when poor underlayment, bad ballast, cross ties and faulty steel was used in the name of "keeping costs down." Even today we see it in the N.E. Corridor and around the Chicago area where high speed trains operate over dozens of grade crossings, simply insane, no? BTW, Nick and Pete have mentioned the U.K. avoiding (where possible) facing point turnouts which cleared up the questions I've had for years. At a closer look of some of the yard configurations near Connoly, Heuston and Belfast Stations in Irealand, I was at a loss for their reason for the seemingly awkward and wasteful use of land. Now I know the rational.[^] Duh, makes sense to me. Okay Boris, Ill be "in and out" today, so you won't need to CLANG....mother told me there would be days like this.[:(!]

[coalminer3]

Good Morning Barkeep and all: coffee, please, round for the house and $ for the Mighty Wirlitzer.

Wonderful reading material this a.m.

We had several family frtiends who worked in the RMS. There was a lot of memory work involved in this service, and, IIRC, clerks had to pass tests for the routes they covered.

I well remember the last RPOs in service between Washington and New York. I used to see them a lot in the evenings at Baltimore. Tom, these were filthy old PRR RPO cars, some still in red others in the green of the road that shall not be mentioned. At any rate, red or green, they had a fascination. The lights inside were quite dim and I wonder how anybody could see to sort the mail. RPO personnel who handled registered mail carried sidearms.

I loved the line. "we've always had trouble with the New York Central."

The El Cap was one of my grandmother's favorite trains when she made periodic forays to the west. It's not that she couldn't afford to ride another train, she just thoproughly enjoyed the Cap's ambience, passengers, etc. I never heard her say a bad word about Uncle John's road.

Now as for the Comet.

As most visitors to this fine establishment know, my New Haven roots go very deep; so here's true story abt. the Comet

My paternal grandfather (in addition to many other life experiences) at one time operated a restaurant in the section of Rhode Island that is known as "South County." There were, of course, more than few New Haven folks who dined there.

Among the group were two brothers, George and Al Bernard, who were engineers on the New Haven. They handled the "Comet" fairly regularly. The "Comet" was viewed as a good run; not neceassarily as august as say the "Yankee Clipper" or the "Marchants," but a good run, nevertheless.

My dad as he told me sort of "hinted around," and one afternoon, in about 1936 or so, he found himself with George Bernard in the cab of the Comet en route from Providence to Boston. His take on the ride was that the train itself rode fairly smoothly although it was a bit noisy. They did "clip off the miles," though. The view from the cab as he described it sounded much like that from the infamous turbo train a few decades later. He told me that they met a couple of trains along the way and it was hard not to flinch, especially as that big steam engine got closer, even though it was on the other track. George never even blinked, he said.

They had coffee and a bite at the local beanery which was an old passenger car deep in the yard at South Station. Dad's ride back to Providence was in one of the parlor cars on whatever afternoon train happened to be available.

The Comet, unlike many of its streamlined fellows on the NYNH&H, was successful. In fact, more people wanted to ride it than it could hold, so a conventional train was subsituted, and by the late 1940s, it was running on the Old Colony lines south of Boston. By the way, the fare between Providence and Boston on the "Comet" was $.90.

work safe

[passengerfan]

Good Morning Tom and the rest of the gang. Just time for coffee and a diet pastry from the Mentor Bakery.

Off to the VA for check-up today. Don't know how that works elsewhere but here it can be one full day and possibly even two.

PASSENGERFAN AL'S STREAMLINER CORNER #27

COMET NYNH&H June 5, 1935 Prividence - Boston five round trips daily 44 miles each way 44 minute schedule.

Another manufacturer more noted for tires and airships was the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company who constructed an Aluminum skinned tubular steel framed three car articulated lightweight bi-directional diesel powered streamlined train.

This train named the COMET was built for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.

The COMET was painted a striking Blue and white the only equipment so painted on the railroad.

The three car articulated train was purchased with a control cab at each end so it was unnecessary to turn the train at terminals.
The COMET with revenue seating for 160 passengers entered service June 5, 1935 betweeen Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts a distance of 44 miles and was scheduled to operate five round trips daily in 44 minutes each way. The three car articulated COMET was powered by a pair of Westinghouse 400 HP diesels one located in each end cab unit. The two power units were numbered 9200 and 9202 with the center articulated car numbered 9201.
The COMET operated on the same route from delivery until the mid 1950's when it was retired and scrapped.

CONSIST

9200 Articulated 400 HP Power Cab with 48-Revenue Coach Seats
9201 Articiulated 64-Revenue Seat Coach
9201 Articulated 400 HP Power Cab with 48-Revenue Coach Seats

TTFN AL

[Anonymous]

Hi again Members and guests. Cindy, I done figured out the only way for me to get "current," is to start with where I left off. HUH[banghead] Sooo, waneswheel, I got a "kick" out of the personal touch the engineer used the loco whistle to communicate with folks along the RTW. We had a SW-7 that shifted wares back and forth about a block from my home in Tulsa, OK (Frisco). He too would add his "signature" toot when he saw a familiar face.[tup] Barndad that was a great "inclusive" post ('cept for the [redCherry Coke[/red]). And the R.P.O. piece brought back a recollection of when I was pacing the platform in K.C. Mo. waiting for Grams arrival. I eventually waltzed my way up near the R.P.O. of a standing Santa Fe passenger consist. How was I to know they were unloading mail bags from a Brinks pick-up some where up-the-line?[#oops] The photo of that postal worker's badge brought the whole incident back to mind[:O] Wow, did I get "the bums rush" or what?[8] I was surprised that the "rail mail" ran as late as 1977, thanks. Nick sure glad you were "on top of things" this A.M. Ahhh, Anne, Lucy and Cindy and moi,Tom sure knows how to handle "fringe benifits." I'll need Lucy's help upstairs in the bath tub counting yesterday's "take." We will only be a moment.[^] BTW, the "Full English" was incredible. On the menu it should be listed "General Cornwallis' Revenge." Gang, I'll be "back in a flash with a flash." Keep them "doggies rollin', rawhide."

[nickinwestwales]

Well,it looks like my `alarm call` post earlier slipped through the seams,no matter,SIR MANAGER THEODORE has things well in hand,as ever.
MIKE-Hi,nice to see the Notre Dame piece getting the wider audience it deserves (Although why Kalmbach require permission to use material on their own forum is a point of copyright law too fine for this simple soul...)
Another evocative piece from DOUG-the notion that folks from miles around would come and have picnics around the wreck site tells us more than we need to know about human nature,I guess nothing brings us together more quickly than something unpleasant happening to someone else.
So this wreck was caused by the lead loco splitting the switch-dont you guys have facing point locking systems?--I cant think of a line over here that doesn`t have `em on all running lines,usually with signals also locked in-Indeed facing point are avoided wherever possible over here,leading to quite distinctive station and yard formations.
ROB-another welcome shot of steam & hot oil from north of the 49 [tup]
Well,thats my dinner break over,back in a bit,be good,nick[C=:-)]